On June 1, 2008 I was able to finally visit Ellis Island, for the first time, in person. What an unforgettable and rewarding experience. Thanks to my son, my niece Andrea and her husband Dan, that I was able to  fulfill this long awaited wish.  I am so grateful to Andrea for her camera skills in capturing the images that were displayed throughout the building and its exteriors which you will see here.  I have also included a few selected prints from the Library of Congress, noted through its photo credit.   Although many of you may have already seen these pictures in person, I thought it would be an interesting feature for those who still haven’t had the opportunity to visit Ellis Island. As an introduction to this photo gallery,  I would like to give you a little historical background on the reasons why so many immigrants came to America.

                                                                                   Miriam Medina Website Administrator of TheHistorybox.com

                                                                 

Much attention has been paid over the years to United States immigration during the period of the 19th century into the early 20th century. A great mass of emigrants from various origins would leave their places of birth in pursuit of the "American Dream", which symbolized for them democracy, equality, liberty, justice and most of all material well-being.

Many of Europe's inhabitants suffered tremendous hardships. Wars, calamities generating poverty, racial prejudices, religious persecution, political oppression, economic causes, tyranny, and prevention of individuals from reaping the rewards of their hard work, were a consistent part of the emigrant's daily existence. As long as those who were victimized remained in their countries, they knew they would continue to be subjected to more of the same. 

Of course, not all Europeans were affected; some would choose to leave their country on a temporary nature, seeking better economic opportunities elsewhere before returning home. Often, however,  those that ventured to America and prospered economically would remain in their adopted country.

"In 1825 the 363-mile long Erie Canal was opened, connecting Lake Erie to the Hudson (Buffalo to Albany). This 40 foot wide, 4-foot deep was an engineering marvel and all Americans were proud of it. It brought the farm products and raw materials of the Old Northwest Territory, around the eastern Great Lakes, directly to the big manufacturing centers of the East and took immigrant settlers to the vast wilderness easily." (a)

The Industrial Revolution was one of the great forces that developed the American Dream. The Industrial Revolution, amidst all the government corruption of the Gilded Era, resulted in the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs. (1)

Following the War between the States, there was a period in the United States known as "The Gilded Age" where great advancements in technology contributed to the rapid industrialization of America. Swift transportation across the continent was a product of "the Industrial Revolution." Between 1850-1890, the American railway system expanded prodigiously. The 200,000 miles of track that were laid down by 1890 encouraged economic growth. As more and more cities and towns were established, the demand for more laborers also grew. (2)

The gold rush to California attracted immigrants from every part of the world.  Much of America's workforce twas on the east coast, and before long the workers left the factories and industries to seek their fortunes out west. Factory owners on the eastern seaboard began losing money and cheap-labor. Everyone was looking for a piece of the action as America expanded. Steamship companies, railroad companies, state immigration bureaus, as well as industrial firms and private enterprises, turned to workers in Europe. Ruthless businessmen hired unscrupulous agents to work on commission. They were sent to Europe with a collection of enticing pamphlets, advertisements, drawings and pictures. "Remember promise them anything, just get them over here. There's big bucks in it for you."

The commissioned agents, the Smooth Operators," exploited the vulnerability of the masses. These operators  promised wealth that would prove an illusion. But to the oppressed people of Europe, the hope of economic betterment for themselves and their children was the promise of a life they had long dreamed of. The smooth operator convinced the downtrodden that land was cheap, that jobs were plentiful and that some day they could return to their home country as wealthy land owners. "Labor agents, the notorious 'padroni,' enriched themselves at the expense of the "immigrants." The padroni  [the loan sharks or flesh peddlers] hired gangs of workmen, charged a heavy commission for the service, and advanced passage money for the journey from Italy, also at a fancy price" .(b) The padroni hooked up with railroad companies, factories, farmlands etc., providing work for the gangs of immigrants while charging an exorbitant commission for supplying the labor-power here in the United States.

Without further delay, the masses would pack their meager belongings, household goods and families into beast driven carts and head for the ports where they would board the ships that would take them to the "land of promise," America. Unfortunately for many immigrants this venture proved to become later on  a great disillusion, as seen in the image below. Many Italian immigrants, tricked by the stories told to them in Europe about plentiful work and big wages, in America, were induced to leave their native land, only to find suffering and hunger as a result of the deception told by the steamship agents, returning  to Italy with empty pockets and totally discouraged..

The vessels finally began arriving at the European ports of departures to pick up their human cargo. The emigrants were already irritable, their children hungry and crying. They had waited for days after their arrival at the wharf. The steamship agents had booked as many steerage passengers as they could squeeze on deck, or in the bottom of the ship, in order to make the trip financially worthwhile. These shipping companies made large profits by carrying "human cargo" to the United States.

The emigrants on deck without protection and mercy were subjected to stormy cold weather conditions and the dampness of the sea. The days turned into weeks. Water was limited. The hungry emigrants in their desperation would push and shove their way to the vessel's kitchen, knocking down whoever got in their way, grabbing whatever they could to feed themselves and their children. Everywhere there was confusion and disorder. Mothers saw their children starving before their eyes. The filth and the stench of unbathed bodies were overpowering. Diarrhea was prominent among the passengers. Their few personal belongings were often stolen. Starvation, dampness and filth became the breeding ground for Cholera and death. The bodies were weighed down and tossed into the sea like animals. Of course, over the years, these traveling conditions for the immigrants that existed then in the mid 1800s did improve in an immense way.

Immigrants on Atlantic Liner.
Photo Credit: Edwin Levick photo. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. 20540. LC-USZ62-11202.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   

                                                                                                                           

For millions of immigrants, the Statue of Liberty in the New York Harbor was their first glimpse of America. Lady Liberty, " Enlightening the World," was a symbol of democracy, of freedom of expression and religious beliefs.

Photo Credit: Welcome To The Land of Freedom 1887 Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA LC-USZC2-1255

As the mass of immigrants approached the statue  in the New York Harbor, smiles spread across their wretched lifeless faces and they raised their voices in unison "America." "America!" For the newcomers the American Dream was finally at hand. Suddenly the atmosphere aboard the vessel became electrified. The immigrants -whatever their nationality or religion-- embraced each other, hugging and kissing as they danced with joy. Gone were the saddened faces, heavy hearts and feelings of regret. Tears flowed in abundance, while many fell to their knees kissing the floor of the vessel. Throughout the entire deck, hands raised to the heavens could be seen, as prayers of gratitude were uttered in various tongues, for their safe arrival. For the first time, in that single miraculous moment, the mass of immigrants became of one mind, soul and spirit. Whatever awaited them, it had to be better than what they had left behind.

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me;
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!		          

           

Photo Credit: Immigrant Boat: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 LC-B2- 5297-9

Photo Credit: Immigrants Coming To The Land of Promise-Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Division, Washington, D.C. 20540  LC-USZ62-7307

   

                       

_Footnotes_______________________________________

a. I Hear America Talking by Stuart Berg Flexner; Publisher: Simon and Schuster-New York 1976.

b. Society and Thought in Modern America by Harvey Wish; David McKay Company, Inc.-New York Volume: II Page: 245

(1) Wikepedia. "American Dream." September 2006
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream

(2) The Social Studies Help Center. "Why was the United States destined to become an Industrialized Nation."
http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_42_Notes.htm

 

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